King David expressed similar thoughts in Psalm 94:1-7, “O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.”  David witnessed the nation of Israel being oppressed by their enemies.  Three times in the above verses David asks the Lord, “HOW LONG?”  He longed to know how long the Lord would allow this injustice to last.  When would the Lord put a stop to this?  It had gone on so long that their enemies declared that the Lord would do nothing about it.  David desired that the God of vengeance would judge those who did wrong to them.

I’m sure it is so hard to see your ex-husband doing so well while you struggle.  He seems to living out your dreams with another woman and your heart cries out, “HOW LONG?”  How long will the Lord allow this injustice to continue?  When will the Lord avenge you and judge your ex-husband for his deeds?

In the latter half of this psalm, David comforts himself with the thought that God will assuredly protect His people and bring destruction upon the evil doers that plagued them.  David wrote in verse 15, “But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.”  He goes on to say in verses 22-23, “But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge. And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.”  David gained strength in realizing that the Lord will move against His enemies according to His own timing.  Indeed, God is the defender of the afflicted.

Although I could say that I understand your bitterness, I must warn you that this bitterness will prevent you from enjoying the blessings of the Lord.  In James 1:14, the Lord warns us against having “bitter jealousy and strife in your hearts”.  To allow these feelings to control you will do you great harm.  If you are consumed with what your husband did to you, you will miss the blessings of what the Lord is doing for you.  Perhaps, even your bitterness is preventing you from accepting the peace and comfort of God.  God is the ‘Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort’ (2 Corinthians 1:3) and He wants to minister to your needs.

Let’s read Romans 12:18-21, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”  For your part, try to live peaceably with him and towards him.  Do not avenge yourself.  Vengeance is the Lord’s work and you should leave that to Him.  He will deal with your ex-husband accordingly.  Do not let his evil deeds take over your life.  Do good to him as the occasions arise.  In doing this, you could cause him to be convicted of his deeds and repent.

I want to ask you a very difficult question.  Would you want the Lord to harshly judge your ex-husband for what he has done, or would you rather your ex-husband repents and receives the mercy of God?  I pray that your answer is that you would want him to repent and receive God’s mercy.  It is not an easy task, but the Lord tells us to “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?”  (Matthew 5:44-46).

Though difficult as it may be for you right now, I pray that you will “let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”  (Colossians 3:15)  (345.6)